John Swinney urges Trump to exempt scotch whisky from 10% tariffs

Kentucky’s Senate hopefuls are dancing around endorsing Mitch McConnell—while also slinging mud over who’s closer to the former GOP leader. Nate Morris, Andy Barr, and Daniel Cameron took shots at each other in Fox News interviews, each trying to paint their rivals as McConnell insiders (or flip-floppers). It’s a messy tug-of-war over McConnell’s legacy, with nobody eager to fully embrace—or reject—him.

Editor’s Note: McConnell’s shadow looms large in Kentucky, even after he stepped down as Senate GOP leader. The candidates are stuck in a weird limbo: distancing themselves from an unpopular figure nationally while still needing his donor network and influence back home. It’s a microcosm of the GOP’s broader struggle—how much of the old guard to keep, and how loudly to pretend you’re not keeping it.

President Trump is considering skipping the G20 summit in South Africa this November, citing strained diplomatic relations and policy clashes between the two countries. This comes after a recent Oval Office meeting that sparked widespread attention, though it's unclear if that event directly influenced his decision.

Editor’s Note: If Trump follows through, it could signal deeper fractures in U.S.-South Africa relations at a time when global cooperation is already shaky. The G20 is a major forum for economic and political dialogue, so a no-show from the U.S. president would raise eyebrows—especially if tensions are the reason. It’s also a reminder of how personal diplomacy (or the lack of it) can shape international dynamics.

A huge 8.8-magnitude earthquake just hit off Russia’s coast—one of the strongest ever recorded—and now Hawaii and parts of the U.S. West Coast are bracing for possible tsunami waves. Officials have issued advisories, urging people to stay alert, though it’s not yet clear how severe the impact might be.

Editor’s Note: Tsunamis can travel thousands of miles across the ocean, so even distant earthquakes can pose a real threat to coastal communities. While advisories don’t always mean disaster, they’re a reminder of how connected—and vulnerable—we are to sudden shifts in the planet’s geology. Better safe than sorry.

The Trump administration has rolled out several trade deals with major players like the EU and Japan, but there’s still a lot we don’t know—like the fine print or long-term impacts. With a tariff deadline looming, these agreements could either ease tensions or just kick the can down the road.

Editor’s Note: Trade deals affect everything from your grocery bill to job markets, so vague agreements leave businesses and consumers guessing. Whether these deals stabilize global trade or add more uncertainty depends on what’s actually in them—and right now, it’s anyone’s bet.

The Trump administration is pushing to release grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a move that could shed more light on the high-profile sex trafficking case. Meanwhile, the Kremlin brushed off Trump’s latest remarks about sanctions, claiming Russia has grown "immune" to them after years of economic pressure.

Editor’s Note: This story matters because it ties together two ongoing political threads: the lingering Epstein case, which still holds potential for explosive revelations, and the strained US-Russia relationship. If the testimony is released, it could reignite public scrutiny over powerful figures linked to Epstein. Meanwhile, Russia’s dismissive stance highlights how geopolitical tensions persist, regardless of Trump’s rhetoric. It’s a reminder that some stories—like Epstein’s network or US-Russia relations—never really fade away.